Washington state’s Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission has tentatively decided to ask the state legislature to lower the scores on the state’s 10th grade reading, writing, and mathematics exams needed to meet new state graduation requirements.
The commissioners voted Oct. 11 to allow students to graduate in 2008 if they meet “proficient” levels in one or two subjects and the “basic” level in the others. Currently, “proficient” scores were required in all three subjects.
Last week, a statewide business group, the Partnership for Learning, said it was “extremely disappointed” in the decision and said the state should stick with requiring proficiency on the 10th grade exams reading, writing and math by the end of high school.
The commission will make its final recommendation to the legislature in November, after a period of public comment.
